STARBULLETIN / 2006
A woman bid goodbye to the USS Hopper on May 5, 2006, as the guided missile destroyer left Pearl Harbor on a four-month deployment to the western Pacific.

Two great reasons for Hawaii to celebrate

July 4, 1776, marked the creation of the United States through the Declaration of Independence.

July 4, 1894 marked the creation of the Republic of Hawaii through the publication of its Constitution. At least five delegates to the Constitutional Convention were native Hawaiians; the Constitution was published in both English and Hawaiian; the speaker of the House was former royalist John Kaulukou.

The republic was internationally recognized de jure as the legitimate government of Hawaii. Formal letters of recognition were rediscovered a few months ago in our state archives, sent to President Sanford Dole, personally signed by emperors, kings, queens and presidents of at least 20 nations, on four continents, in 11 languages. Photographs of the originals, plus Liliuokalani's letter of abdication and loyalty oath to the republic, are at:

International recognition condoned the revolution of 1893 as having been legal. It empowered the republic, as a legitimate government, to offer a treaty of annexation, which Congress accepted in 1898 (Senate: 42-21; House: 209-91). Ninety-four percent of Hawaii voters said "yes" to statehood in 1959.

So let's celebrate July 4 as a double holiday in Hawaii, honoring both 1776 and 1884.

Kenneth R. Conklin
Kaneohe

Artist's self-image knows no bounds

Robert Wyland's ego is becoming a environmental threat ("Wyland targets Kauai for hotel redevelopment," Star-Bulletin, July 3). Now the piscean Picasso thinks that he can actually overshadow the ghost of Elvis at the Coco Palms?

I'm sorry. This has me all shook up.

Do we really need whale pictures on every corner of this land like we need a Starbucks? Wyland is going to need a lot more space than allowed on the Great Wall of China if he is someday planning to depict a life-size painting of his leviathan-sized ego.

Please! Harpoon me!

Fred Barnett
Kailua

'Rocky Horror' show shouldn't be missed

I have seen the "Rocky Horror Show" at at the Manoa Valley Theater four times so far. I am planning to attend more performances before the show ends.

When I heard about the show, which my daughter auditioned for, I didn't think it was a show that I would want her to perform in. But Cassie is in the cast as one of the phantom performers. She is also the understudy for "Magenta" and she has performed that part for three shows already.

It is a great, fun show. The audience participation is great and adds to all the fun. So buy a participation bag at the show and have some fun. Tony Young is excellent in his performance and so are the other leads. Each performance has something different to offer as the performers get into their characters.

If you want a fun night out and to enjoy something different, the "Rocky Horror Show" is the musical to see. Before the show even opened they extended for another two weeks. It is almost sold out, so get your tickets now before you miss a great performance.

Diane Favreau-Chung
Mililani

Don't veto bills that aid the elderly

I am concerned that the governor is considering a veto of Senate Bill 2830, the Caregiver Omnibus Bill, and House Bill 2520, the Family Leave Working Group.

A group of us representing the legislative committee of the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs -- Executive Office on Aging met with the governor last year. At that time she stated her policy for the elderly was to help keep seniors at home as long as possible. Therefore, it is hard for me to understand this veto message. The only funding required in this bill is for money for Kupuna Care and an increase for care-home operators.

Kupuna Care is my greatest concern because its very mission is to keep people at home as long as possible. The funds were to decrease their waiting lists, especially for Meals on Wheels. We have had evidence of a person who can't grocery shop and who did not eat for four days because of cuts in this program. Kupuna Care also provides bathing and other personal care, transportation to doctors and chore services. These people are just above the poverty level and can't get Medicaid or have funds enough to pay their rent and services also.

My other concern is HB 2520. A study last year revealed that 3,500 working people are also caregivers and trying to juggle their home and work responsibilities. We believe the bill addresses the governor's concern regarding fiscal and fairness issues by having a diverse membership in the working group.

It is also important for businesses to maintain their skilled and experienced workforce who might have to leave their employment if they have no other means of help. This bill will explore ways to support them.

Laura G. Manis
Legislative chairwoman
Kokua Council

Even McCain's POW jailer endorses him

Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark, a Barack Obama supporter, said John McCain's military service does not automatically qualify him to be commander in chief and he hasn't held executive responsibility.

That is pure nonsense. While others tout their executive political or business experience, it's the executive on the field of battle who impresses me most. No other candidate has exhibited the personal courage and heroism under fire that has McCain. Further, McCain's compelling personal story, including the more than five years he spent as a prisoner of war in a North Vietnamese prison, make him uniquely situated to understand the horrors of war and what is necessary to defeat a ruthless enemy.

He was flying his 23rd mission, part of a 20-plane attack against the Yen Phu thermal power plant in central Hanoi, before being shot down by a Soviet-made SA-2 anti-aircraft missile fired by the North Vietnamese Air Defense Command.

Recently a Vietnamese jailer named Tran Trong Duyet said he held McCain captive for about five years as a POW and now considers him a friend. Duyet describes McCain as tough, very conservative, loyal to the U.S. military and to his beliefs, and to his country.

I am proud to be an American and to have McCain as my next president of the United States.

Melvin Partido Sr.
Pearl City

New attitude needed to help the homeless

I'm sick and tired of employable homeless people being allowed to enjoy a perpetual vacation, at the public's expense, at any of Hawaii's beaches! I was a Depression baby back in the Midwest on the mainland, and even then I understood the general rule, which in those days was "if you don't work, you don't eat." It seemed to function well; and then the unemployment rate was way over our current 3.5 percent.

We need adequate housing for all unfortunate homeless individuals, possibly in some sort of barracks-type structure (maybe it could quickly be made available from military surplus housing?), near a bus line but away from our beaches.

Charitable organizations might consider redirecting their efforts and resources toward assisting with and encouraging employment, rather than concentrating on providing food. "Don't work, don't eat" could still be a big incentive in resolving our homeless problem.

Jack Telaneus
Honolulu

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